Breadcrumb navigation:

Dual Degree Offerings

higher education masters program

1. Master of Arts/Master of Business Administration Program

The joint MA in Higher Education and MBA program prepares students to assume leadership positions in such areas as financial management, resource planning, and technology management in universities and policy-making organizations. Students in this program take courses from both the Lynch Graduate School of Education and the Carroll Graduate School of Management. The program advisor is Dr. Jeffrey Ringuest (jeffrey.ringuest@bc.edu). The program's framework is as follows:

Applicants for the joint degree program apply to both degree programs simultaneously and must be accepted separately into each program. Application materials are reviewed by each school's admission committee. Students may submit the GMAT with both applications, or both the GMAT and either the GRE or MAT.

For the MA degree in Higher Education, students must satisfy 30 credit hours corresponding to the program requirements as indicated elsewhere in this handbook. Students in the program have an option of taking either MD714 or ED468 to fulfill the methodology requirement.

For the MBA degree, students must satisfy basic core requirements (37 credits) plus two elective courses from graduate management (6 credits). See the Carroll Graduate School's Courses, Faculty, and Academic Policies, for more detail.

In conjunction with a faculty advisor, students will choose elective courses that complement their career interests. Such courses may come from any school at Boston College, including social sciences and professional programs.

Students in the joint degree program are expected to take ED876, Financial Management in Higher Education.

The joint degree program normally requires 3 years, including two years of concentration in the MBA program and one year in the Higher Education program.

2. Master of Arts/Juris Doctor Joint Degree Program

The joint MA in Higher Education and JD in the Law School prepares students to assume leadership positions in such areas as higher education law and policy. Students in this program take courses both the Lynch Graduate School of Education and Boston College School of Law. The program advisors are Dr. Diana Pullin (pullin@bc.edu) at the Lynch School and Professor Elizabeth Keller (Elizabeth.Keller.1@bc.edu) at the Law School.

Applicants for the joint degree program apply to both degree programs; applications can be submitted either simultaneously or during the first year of study at Boston College School of Law. Applicants must be accepted independently into each program; application materials are reviewed by each school's admission committee. Students may submit the LSAT with both applications.

Students must be registered as full-time students throughout the program unless they are pursuing summer study or have already completed six full-time semesters of study.

Students must complete the normal first year curriculum of the Law School in consecutive semesters before taking any other Law School classes. Ordinarily, students are advised to begin the Joint Degree program after this first year of Law School study. Students, however, may also begin the program during the summer before the first year at the Law School or in part-time study in the School of Education prior to the first year at the Law School.

Students must complete five semesters of residency at the Law School, as required by the American Bar Association.

Degree Requirements for the School of Education:

Advisement in the School of Education for students participating in the Joint Degree Program will be done by the appropriate faculty advisor in the students' SOE program. All joint degree students must have their program of study approved by their faculty advisor and department chairperson.

The School of Education requires 30 credit hours for the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, Education Administration and Higher Education, 9 of which may be taken in selected Law School courses.

Degree Requirements for the Law School:

The Law School requires 85 credit hours for the JD degree, 12 of which may be taken in selected School of Education courses.

In conjunction with a faculty advisor, students will choose elective courses that complement their career interests. Such courses may come from any school at Boston College, including social sciences and professional programs.

Students in the joint degree program are expected to take ED705, Education Law and Policy and are strongly encouraged to take ED878, Seminar in Higher Education Law.

The joint degree program normally requires 3 years, including one summer of part-time course work.